U.S. patent number 4,455,807 [Application Number 06/383,241] was granted by the patent office on 1984-06-26 for splice rail assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Evans Products Company. Invention is credited to Donald J. Ehrlich.
United States Patent |
4,455,807 |
Ehrlich |
June 26, 1984 |
Splice rail assembly
Abstract
A splice rail assembly for joining two adjacent panels in a
coplanar relationship having two parallel tongues extending
perpendicularly therefrom, the first of which tongues is located
substantially in the mid-portion of the splice rail, the second
being offset therefrom a distance substantially equal to the
thickness of the first tongue. When two such rails are
appropriately positioned with their tongues facing each other, the
mid-portion tongues of each can be inserted into the space between
the two tongues of the opposite rail in an interlocking
relationship. The sides or ends of two panels fit, respectively,
into the spaces formed between two such interlocked splice rails
outwardly of the tongues and the resulting assembly can be fastened
together with suitable fastening members.
Inventors: |
Ehrlich; Donald J. (Monon,
IN) |
Assignee: |
Evans Products Company
(Portland, OR)
|
Family
ID: |
23512293 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/383,241 |
Filed: |
May 28, 1982 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/770; 52/464;
52/777 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
33/046 (20130101); F16B 5/0068 (20130101); F16B
5/0072 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
33/00 (20060101); B62D 33/04 (20060101); F16B
5/00 (20060101); E04B 001/60 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/582,777,781,770,464,584,732,730,264 ;403/364 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Perham; Alfred C.
Assistant Examiner: Thomas; David J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Howard; Robert E.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a trailer body having side walls formed of a plurality of
panel members, the improvement in mechanically joining adjacent
panel members comprising:
a first splice rail comprising an elongated plate member having
first and second tongue member extending outwardly in a
longitudinal direction perpendicular the plane of said plate
member, said first and second tongue members being parallel to each
other, the inner face of the first of said tongue members being
located along the longitudinal centerline of said plate member, the
second of said tongue members being offset outwardly from the inner
face of said first tongue member by a distance substantially equal
to the thickness of said first tongue member,
a second splice rail identical to said first splice rail and
positioned adjacent to said first splice rail with the longitudinal
centerlines of said first and second splice rails being parallel
and located in the same plane perpendicular to said splice rails,
the first tongue member of each of said first and second splice
rails being located between the first and second tongue members of
the other of said splice rails,
the sides of ends of said adjacent panel members being located
between said first and second splice rails outwardly of the second
tongue member of each of said first and second splice rails,
and
a plurality of fastening members securing said first and second
splice rails to said adjacent panel members.
2. The splice rail of claim 1 wherein said plate member has
longitudinally extending first and second rib members along each
longitudinal edge of said plate member, said first and second rib
members projecting outwardly from the face of said plate member
opposite the face of said plate member from which said first and
second tongue members extend.
3. The splice rail of claim 1 wherein said place member has a third
rib member extending longitudinally along the mid-portion of said
plate member, said third rib member projecting outwardly from the
same face of said plate as said first and second rib members.
4. The splice rail of claim 1 wherein the side of said first and
second rib members facing the side of said plate member from which
said tongues extend are each configured to form a longitudinally
extending channel.
5. The splice rail assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said splice
rails has a plurality of cooperating openings located outwardly of
said second tongue member for receiving fastening members
therethrough.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a splice rail for splicing or joining
together two panels. More particularly, the splice rail may be used
to join together in a coplanar relationship two adjacent panels
forming the sidewall of a trailer body.
The sidewalls of trailer bodies have been formed of many materials,
including plywood. One of the most satisfactory materials for
forming the sidewalls or side panels of a trailer body is a panel
formed of a plywood core with coatings of glass fiber reinforced
plastic on opposite sides thereof. Trailers formed from such panels
are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,692,349 and
3,788,682.
Such panels are relatively large, being on the order of 10 feet by
40 feet. Although generally one such panel can form the entire
sidewall of a trailer body, it is sometimes desirable to form
sidewalls of a larger size. Also, it is desirable to repair trailer
bodies that have been damaged in use by replacing only that portion
of the sidewall containing the damage.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a splice
rail for joining together two panels in a coplanar relationship
which forms a spliced joint having superior strength
characteristics.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a splice
rail formed of a single configuration which can be used both on the
inside and the outside of the splice joint between two panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The splice rail of the present invention comprises an elongated
plate member having two parallel tongues extending perpendicularly
from the inner face thereof. The first of the tongue members is
located substantially in the mid portion of the splice rail with
the second tongue member being offset therefrom a distance
substantially equal to the thickness of the first tongue. When two
such splice rails are assembled with their inner faces directed
toward each other, the tongues of one splice rail will interlock
with the tongues of the other splice rail, and with suitable
fastening members forms a spliced joint capable of holding two
adjacent panels together in a coplanar relationship.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. I is a cross sectional top view of the splice rail of the
present invention.
FIG. II is a cross sectional top view of an assembly formed of two
splice rails securing the sides or ends of two adjacent panels in a
coplanar relationship.
FIG. III is a partial perspective view of the exterior of a trailer
body illustrating the joining together of panels with the splice
rail of the present invention.
FIG. IV is a cut away perspective side view of two panels joined
together with the splice rail of the present invention.
FIG. V is a cross sectional top view of an alternative embodiment
of the splice rail.
FIG. VI is a cross sectional top view of an assembly of splice
rails of an alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. I, the splice rail 10 of the present
invention is shown in cross section. The splice rail 10 has two
coplanar web portions 11 and 12 extending outwardly from a central
body portion or rib 13. The longitudinal centerline of splice rail
10 is located along the center of rib 13.
Extending outwardly from the inner face of splice rail 10 are first
and second tongue members 14 and 15, respectively. Tongues 14 and
15 extend perpendicularly from the inner face of splice rail 10 and
are parallel to each other.
First tongue member 14 is located, substantially in the mid-portion
of splice rail 10, and preferably the inner face of tongue 14 is
located along the longitudinal centerline of splice rail 10.
Second tongue member 15 is offset from the longitudinal centerline
of splice rail 10 a distance preferably substantially equal to the
thickness of first tongue member 14.
Ribs 16 and 17 are located along each longitudinal edge,
respectively, of splice rail 10. Ribs 16 and 17 are semi-circular
in cross sectional configuration, with the inner faces thereof
forming a longitudinally extending channels 20 and 22,
respectively, as illustrated in FIG. II. The ends 18 and 19 of ribs
16 and 17, respectively, are not coplanar with the plane of the
inner faces of webs 11 and 12, respectively, but extend inwardly a
short distance beyond the plane of such inner faces. The apexes of
the ribs 13, 16, and 17 are preferably in the same plane.
Referring to FIG. II, there is illustrated in cross section an
assembly comprised of two identical splice rails 10 and 10' and two
panels 30 and 32 joined or spliced together by such splice rails.
The outer splice rail 10 is positioned opposite a second or inner
splice rail 10' such that the longitudinal centerlines are parallel
and located in the same plane perpendicular to the splice rails. In
such a position, the first tongue 14 of splice rail 10 can be
inserted into the space between the tongues 14' and 15' of the
second splice rail 10' and the first tongue 14' of the second
splice rail 10' can be inserted into the space between tongues 14
and 15 of the first splice rail 10. Since the space between the
tongues is substantially equal to the thickness of the tongue of
the opposite splice rail inserted therebetween, an interlocking
relationship between the two splice rails 10 and 10' can be
established.
A panel 30 fits into the space between the two splice rails 10 and
10' in the area formed between the inner faces of webs 11 and 12'
and the outer face of tongue 15'. Similarly, a panel 32 may be
inserted into the space between splice rails 10 and 10' in the area
formed by the inner faces of webs 12 and 11' and the outer face of
tongue 15.
Suitable fastening members, such as bolts 26 and 28, may be passed
through plurality openings in the splice rails (not illustrated),
and through the associated panels 30 and 32. Nuts 27 and 29 are
attached to bolts 26 and 28 to complete the fastening of the splice
rails to the panels. A plurality of such fastening members, such as
illustrated in FIG. IV, may be located longitudinally along the
splice rails in the web portions thereof.
By virtue of the fact that the tongues of two splice rails
interlock in both directions, the fastening members are loaded in
double shear which increases the integrity of the joint many times
over that of a single type shear connection. Since the end portions
18 and 19 of ribs 16 and 17, respectively, extend inwardly a short
distance beyond the planes of the inner surfaces of webs 11 and 12,
a sealing relationship is established with the adjacent panel when
the splice rail is assembled and the fastening members tightened as
illustrated in FIG. II, thereby preventing moisture from
entering.
Ribs 13, 16 and 17 project outward beyond fastening members 26 and
28 thereby protecting them from abrasion during operation of the
trailer in which a spliced assembly is employed.
In FIG. III, an exterior view of a trailer body 40 pulled by a
tractor 50 is illustrated which shows three panels, 30, 32 and 34
fastened or spliced together with two pairs of splice rails.
Although FIG. III illustrates employing the splice rail of the
present invention in a vertical disposition, it is clear that the
splice rail could also be employed in a horizontal or angular
disposition as well.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated
in FIGS. V and VI.
Referring to FIG. V, the alternatively configured splice rail 110
is shown in cross section. The splice rail 110 has two coplanar web
portions 111 and 112 extending outwardly from a central body
portion or rib 113. The longitudinal center line of splice rail 110
is located along the center rib 113.
In contrast with splice rail 10 shown in FIG. I, splice rail 110
has a single tongue member 114 extending perpendicularly from the
inner face thereof. Tongue member 114 is located in the
longitudinal mid-portion of the inner face of splice rail 110.
FIG. VI illustrates, in cross section, an assembly of splice rails
10 and 110. As can be seen, single tongue member 114 of splice rail
110 is inserted into the space between tongues 14 and 15 of splice
rail 10 and fastened together as previously explained to hold
together two panels 30 and 32.
* * * * *